$ISRG reported a loss for 4Q17, impacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Net loss for the quarter was $38.8MM or $0.35 per share compared to a net income of $204MM or $1.71 per share a year ago. Revenue surged 17.9% to $892.4MM, driven by increased procedures and systems placements. On an adjusted basis $ISRG earned $2.54 per share, up 25.1% YoY.

$ISRG upped its FY17 procedure growth guidance range to 15% to 16% from prior estimate of 14% to 15% above the 753,000 procedures performed in 2016. In regards to system placements, although the proportion of 3Q17 systems placed under operating leases was slightly lower than 2Q17, the company continues to expect an upward trend for FY17.

$ISRG continues to launch its da Vinci X systems in new regions, as it launched in nine countries during 3Q17 and anticipates adding four more in 4Q17. The company said that da Vinci Xi makes up roughly 75% of new placements, da Vinci X makes up approx. 10% of new placements in its limited early launch and with the balance made up by Si technology.

Worldwide da Vinci procedures grew approx. 15% in 3Q17 as $ISRG shipped 169 da Vinci Surgical Systems during the quarter. With $TRXC already in its sight, Intuitive Surgical will also be eyeing $MDT with much more concern as Medtronic is set to roll out its surgical robot system next year.

Amidst concern over an emerging competition for its da Vinci Surgical Systems, $ISRG posted its 3Q17 results where revenue increased 18% and profit grew 41%. Recently, the US FDA has shown the green light for $TRXC to market its Senhance Surgical Robotic System, the first system since 2010 to compete head-to-head against $ISRG's da Vinci system.

In 2Q17, $ISRG's service revenue rose 11% to $142MM while instrument and accessory revenue jumped 17% to $398MM. Intuitive Surgical ended the second quarter with $3.4Bil in cash, cash equivalents, and investments.

In 2Q17, revenue for $ISRG jumped 13% to $756MM while net income soared 20% to $222MM or $5.77 per diluted share. Non-GAAP net income was $228MM or $5.95 per diluted share, with systems revenue increased by approximately 7% to $216MM.

$ISRG's new da Vinci X Surgical System received FDA clearance in the US. The da Vinci X System will provide surgeons and hospitals with access to some of the most advanced robotic-assisted surgery technology at a lower cost.

$ISRG stated that on
the da Vinci X, the instruments are going to be similar to the Xi.
Additionally, instruments on X are the same family as the Xi. On additional instruments, the company has
a portfolio of instruments it's working on and $ISRG is expanding its stapler
line, to be a full line sapling system.

$ISRG said that on the procedure
guidance, the company expects 2017 procedure growth to be driven by US
general surgery and international procedure. On the Australia
work, which was on the flexible robotics platform, they are in patient follow
up now. The company expects them to be presenting publicly in the fall.

For 1Q17, $ISRG's Instruments and Accessories revenue grew 18.22% YoY to $380.8MM, helped by nearly 18% growth in da Vinci procedure volume. Service revenue grew by 12.61% to $140.2MM,
while Systems revenue for the quarter rose by 3.58% to $153.2MM from a year
ago.

$ISRG said that equity awards, approved by the Compensation Committee of the BoD, which consists entirely of Independent Directors, were made to 57 new employees. The equity awards were granted under $ISRG 2009 Commencement Incentive Plan, which the board adopted for the granting of equity awards to new employees.

$ISRG said that equity awards, approved by the Compensation Committee of the BoD, which consists entirely of Independent Directors, were made to 92 new employees. The equity awards were granted under the 2009 Commencement Incentive Plan, which the Board adopted for the granting of equity awards to new employees.

$ISRG said that in 2017, the company expects its pro forma gross profit margin to be in the range of 69-71% of net revenue. The company also expects to grow pro forma 2017 operating expenses between 15-18% above 2016 levels.

$ISRG ended 4Q16 with cash and investments of $4.8Bil, up from $4.6Bil as of Sept. 30, 2016. This increase was mainly driven by cash generated from operations and proceeds from stock option exercises. During 4Q16, the company repurchased 55,000 shares for $34MM.